JP2008543428A - Foldable breathing device hood assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A respirator hood assembly comprises a pliable hood including a transparent viewing area and a removable support structure mountable within an interior of the hood, wherein the support structure draws taut the pliable hood to inhibit the formation of creases in the transparent viewing area.

Description

  The respirator hood is used for respiratory protection and protects the operator's face, head, and hair from contamination.

  Respirator hoods reduce the risk of chemical skin absorption. Small respirators for the face add facial hair, unusually sized facial features, or other features that may increase the difficulty of providing a proper seal around the worker's mouth and nose. The respirator hood offers the advantage of covering the operator's face and entire head because it does not work for those who have it. On the other hand, the whole body respirator suit is bulky and difficult to handle, and often hinders the movement of the wearer. In addition, the costs associated with a full body suit reduce usage where the hood provides adequate protection.

  The respirator hood covers the wearer's head and neck. The shroud portion can wrap around the wearer's shoulder and provide a seal around the person. In addition, an additional inner shroud may be pushed into the wearer's other clothing to provide additional protection. In general, the hood does not provide collision shock protection. Respirator hoods are often made to be flexible. Air is generally supplied into the hood through a hose attached before or after. Such respirator hoods are available from many manufacturers, including Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota. The hood is generally made from a nonwoven material having a polymer coating on the surface. The hood can also be made from paper, cloth, or additional polymer. In many cases, the material selected for the hood is one that prevents fluid flow to that material.

  In most cases, at least a portion of the hood is transparent. This transparent portion is generally located in an area where the wearer can see the surrounding environment. The hood provides upper body protection against splash hazards and in addition provides visibility to the wearer. The respirator hood may be used in combination with headgear, such as a head suspension or a hard cap. The head suspension or stiff cap supports the hood on the wearer's head and provides at least minimal space between the wearer's face and the hood. The hood may be attached to the headgear in a separable manner.

  The rigid cap structure may add some limitations to the shape of the hood. With either a hard cap or a head suspension inserted into the hood, the hood material is sufficiently flexible that the wearer can observe if the hood is an inflexible structure. It is possible to allow the wearer to enter and exit the narrow area where it cannot. Because of this flexibility of the hood material, the hood often includes a fold in the wearer's line of sight, which can sometimes interfere with the wearer's vision.

  In one embodiment, the respirator hood assembly includes a flexible hood that includes a transparent viewing area, and a removable rigidized support structure that can be mounted within the interior of the hood, the support structure being flexible. The hood is stretched to prevent the formation of folds in the transparent viewing area.

  In another embodiment, the present invention is an improvement of a respirator hood assembly having a gas impermeable hood made from a flexible material, wherein the material of the gas impermeable hood is a transparent viewing area, breathing Filtered air inlet for receiving suitable air into the hood, at least one check valve for facilitating gas evacuation from the hood, and securing the hood around the wearer's head Have a part for. The improvement includes a removable stiffening support structure that is mounted inside the hood, which is sufficiently stiff to maintain the hood in an extended upright position and stretch the transparent viewing area , Enhance the wearer's visibility through it.

  In other embodiments, the respirator hood assembly is flexible having a first state in which the hood structure is collapsed for storage and transportation and a second state in which the hood structure is expanded for respirator applications. Includes a hood structure. The respirator hood assembly places the hood structure in a second state when attached to the hood structure, thereby stretching at least the front portion of the hood structure and the side of the hood structure including the transparent viewing area. And a removable stiffening support structure for the hood structure, as well as means for attaching the removable stiffening support structure to the flexible hood structure.

  In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of using a respirator hood assembly to protect a wearer from breathing hazards. A flexible hood including an inlet for filtered air, an exhaust system including at least one check valve, and a transparent viewing region, including a opening for inserting a head of a wearer's body Sex hood is provided. A removable stiffening support structure is removably disposed within the interior of the hood to create a stiffened hood assembly. The stiffened hood assembly is placed around the head of the wearer's body and sealed to prevent respiratory hazards from entering the hood assembly.

  The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The following drawings and best mode for carrying out the invention more specifically exemplify illustrative embodiments.

Glossary “Pull and stretch” means that it is pulled firmly or stretched and does not loosen.

  “Extended upright position” means the form taken by the respirator hood with the insertion of a removable support structure.

  “Optical properties” means properties, features or abilities relating to visual acuity and properties or abilities relating to eye protection.

  “Removable stiffening support structure” means an insert that can be inserted and removed from the respirator hood, adds structure to the respirator hood, and stretches the outer skin layer with the pin.

  By “stiffened hood assembly” is meant a respirator hood having an insert that reinforces the hood material and makes the sidewalls more difficult to move, deform or bend.

  “Transparent viewing area” means the part of the respirator hood that can transmit light, so that surrounding objects or images are visible to the wearer.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person wearing a respirator hood 14. Such respirator hoods are known in the art. A respirator hood such as the one shown is a flexible hood. Flexible hoods are used in the pharmaceutical, medical, military, and nuclear industries and related industries. The respirator hood provides a high level of respirator protection for the wearer compared to the full body suit. Respirator hoods can be reusable for years depending on the environment of use.

  The respirator hood 14 includes an upper portion 12 and a lower portion 16 that includes a shroud 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the hood 14 is comprised of an outer skin layer 19 of gas impermeable material. For example, the outer skin layer 19 of the hood 14 may be made of a 0.5 mm thick polyurethane sheet. Food materials are resistant to chemicals but environmentally friendly. Other polymers, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or coated fabrics are also used in the construction of such respirator hoods. As shown, the hood 14 is transparent. In an alternative embodiment, the hood 14 includes a non-transparent, opaque, or colored portion having a transparent visor portion that allows the wearer to see through a portion of the outer skin layer 19 of the hood 14. Also good.

  In FIG. 1, the illustrated hood 14 is comprised of two parts of material, a circular top 20 and a cylindrical side wall 22 that are connected by a seam 24. Seam 24 joins wall 22 and top 20 together by heat sealing, adhesive, radio frequency (RF) welding, insulating seals, or similar permanent attachment that is gas impermeable. The hood 14 has a front portion 14a, left and right portions 14b and 14c, and a rear portion 14d.

  The shroud 18 may be composed of the same or similar flexible gas impermeable material. The shroud 18 need not be transparent. The shroud acts to cover the neck and shoulders of the wearer's body and generally includes a structure that prevents air from entering the hood 14. The hood and shroud are connected by a seam 26, which may be a heat sealed seam or other similar permanent attachment similar to seam 24. The shroud 18 includes an opening 27 that allows the wearer's head to be inserted into the hood 14.

  The hood 14 also includes one or more one-way valves 28. Each one-way valve 28 allows air to escape from the inside of the hood 14 and at the same time prevents outside air from entering the inside of the hood 14. The hood 14 also includes an air inlet 30. In general, the air inlet 30 is connected to a hose (not shown) that extends to a filtration system (not shown) that filters outside air and moves the filtered air to the inside of the hood 14. This prevents the wearer from coming into contact with outside air that may not be suitable for breathing if not filtered.

  Since the hood 14 is made from a flexible material, the outer skin layer 19 of the hood 14 can bend, which creates pleats, undulations, and creases 32 in the hood 14. When placed within that portion of the hood 14 that serves as a viewing area 36 for the wearer, the crease 32 creates a visual distortion for the wearer, in addition, the hood 14 may cause the wearer's face or It is possible to touch the head and distract physically. The viewing region 36 extends to the front portion 14a and often extends at least to its side portions 14b and 14c.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a person wearing a respirator hood assembly 10 that includes the structural insert 34 of the present invention. As shown, the respirator hood assembly 10 includes a hood 14 having a top portion 12 and a lower portion 16 that includes a shroud 18. In addition, the insert 34 is present as part of the respirator hood assembly 10. The insert 34 is a removable stiffened support structure made from a sheet of material that is inserted into the opening 27 to create a stiffened hood assembly structure. Upon insertion, the insert 34 removes any folds from the wearer's viewing area 36, a portion of the outer skin layer 19 of the hood 14 (its sides 14b and 14c and at least a portion of the front 14a, as well as its viewing area 36. ) To stretch with the pin, making it a substantially flat surface.

  In one embodiment, the insert 34 is a sheet of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) having a thickness of 0.75 mm. Alternatively, the insert 34 is constructed from a sheet of polycarbonate, acetate, or crystalline polymer, or similar material. The insert 34 is sufficiently flexible so that it can be deformed for insertion into the hood assembly 10. The flexibility of the insert 34 is varied depending on the flexibility of the outer skin layer 19 of the hood 14 to obtain the desired balance between the flexibility and stiffness of the hood assembly 10. For example, the stiffness of the hood assembly 10 may be adjusted or adjusted by changing the ratio of the thickness of the insert 34 to the thickness of the outer skin layer 19 of the hood 14 and / or by changing the material involved. Can do. In one embodiment, the thickness of the insert 34 is one and a half times the thickness of the outer skin layer 19. As can be seen when comparing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, inserting the insert 34 into the hood 14 removes the fold 32 and the hood 14 is structurally supported by the insert 34 in an upright position. Is done. The insert 34 is thick enough to provide sufficient rigidity to support the sidewall 22 and creates a cylindrical structure within the hood assembly 10.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the insert 34 outside the hood assembly 10. In one embodiment, the insert 34 is generally rectangular in shape and includes an upper end 46, a lower end 44, and side ends 40 and 41. The insert 34 includes one or more tabs 38 that extend from each of the side edges 40 and 41. Similarly, one or more tabs 42 may extend from the lower end 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper end 46 does not include a tab and is made as a straight end that supports the rigid cap structure 60 upon manipulation of the insert 34 (as can be seen in FIG. 5). The height H of the side ends 40 and 41 (and the insert 34) substantially corresponds to the height of the side wall 22 of the hood 14. The length L of the upper end 46 and the lower end 44 (and the insert 34) is at least part of the circumference of the top 20 of the hood 14. The specific dimensions of the insert 34 depend on the dimensions of the hood 14 and the relative arrangement of the securing means between the insert 34 and the hood 14.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the insert 34 also includes an opening 48 that allows the insert 34 to be placed around the one-way valve 28 of the hood 14. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, a portion of the material is removed from the sheet of insert 34 as defined by the periphery 50, thereby creating an opening 52. When the insert 34 is placed in the hood assembly 10, the opening 52 is aligned with the viewing region 36, and the wearer is blocked only through the tight, relatively wrinkle clear outer skin layer 19 of the hood 14. Allows you to have no visibility.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the insert 34 mounted in the hood 14. In FIG. 4, the insert 34 is manipulated by winding the sheet into a cylindrical shape having an outer perimeter that is smaller than the perimeter of the opening 27 of the shroud 18. When the insert 34 is placed inside the hood 14, the insert 34 is manipulated such that the tabs 38 and 42 are inserted into the pockets 54 and 56 in the hood 14, respectively. This temporarily secures the insert 34 in the hood 14.

  The insert 34 is manufactured as a flat sheet. The sheet is soft and flexible and allows the sheet to be rolled into a generally cylindrical or conical shape for insertion into the inside of the hood 14. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the wearer winds a sheet of insert 34 into a cylindrical shape for insertion into the hood 14. The wearer grips the overlapping area 58 of the insert 34 in a rolled configuration for its insertion. Since the insert 34 is formed as a flat single sheet, the insert tends to flatten or spread as soon as the wearer releases the grip of the overlapping region 58. From a material that is in contact with the flexible side wall 22 (outer skin layer 19) and is more flexible than the outer skin layer 19 of the hood 14 as described above. The spring force of the sheet causes the insert 34 to expand until it takes on the cylindrical shape of (formed). The outer skin layer 19 is thus pulled with the pin, and when the outer skin layer 19 is pulled against the surface of the insert 34, it takes the form of the insert 34 and the folds and It means that wrinkles are flattened.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hood assembly 10 taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. FIG. 5 illustrates a hood 14 that includes a rigid cap portion 60 therein and a pocket 54 on the inner surface of the side wall 22 of the rear portion 14d. A portion of the pocket 56 is also shown on the inner surface of the sidewall 22 adjacent to its lower end. The insert 34 is also inside the hood 14 and has its tabs 38 and 42 inserted into the pockets 54 and 56, respectively. The side edges 40 and 41 of the insert 34 do not touch. Since the pockets 54 are correspondingly positioned, when the tab 38 is inserted therein, the insert 34 expands in contact with the material of the flexible hood 14 and creates a generally cylindrical cavity inside the hood. Forms a substantially cylindrical shape. The upper end 44 of the insert 34 contacts the rigid cap 60 and at the same time the tabs 42 are inserted into the pockets 56 to further align the insert 34 in the hood 14 and to stretch and stretch the hood 14 material. To make it easier. In this way, the insert 34 is mounted in the hood 14 and the hood has a generally cylindrical shape.

  The rigid cap 60 includes a recessed bottom surface for receipt of the wearer's head. The recessed bottom surface is located approximately in the center of the top 20 of the hood 14. Therefore, when the insert 34 is attached and the hood 14 is placed on the wearer's head, the rigid cap 60 positions the hood 14 around the wearer's head and the front of the wearer's head. And leaving a space between the rear and the inside of the hood 14. Therefore, the material of the side wall 22 of the hood 14 is prevented from contacting the wearer's head so as not to distract or irritate the wearer.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a stiffening insert for a flexible hood. In the illustrated embodiment, the insert 80 is substantially trapezoidal in height H having an upper end 81 (having a length L1), a lower end 82 (having a length L2), and two side ends 83 and 84. Includes the outer periphery of the shape. The height H substantially matches the height of the side wall 22 of the hood 14. The lengths L1 and L2 of the upper end 80 and the lower end 82 are at least a part of the length of the periphery of the top 20 and the seam 26 of the hood 14. As illustrated, the upper end length L1 is shorter than the lower end length L2. In an alternative embodiment, the length L1 is longer than the length L2.

  The insert 80 includes a series of fasteners 86 near the upper and lower parallel ends. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the fastener 86 is a snap or other connecting element, with the snap positioned over the insert 80. A corresponding socket or other connecting element is located on the inside of the side wall 22 of the hood 14. To install the insert 80, the insert is rolled as shown in FIG. 4 and inserted into the opening of the hood 14, and then the corresponding snap and socket of the fastener 86 are pressed together. The insert 80 is fixed.

  The insert 80 also includes a visor portion 90 defined by the periphery 88. In this embodiment, the visor portion 90 may be an opening in the insert 80 or may have different optical properties than that of the rest of the insert 80. For example, the visor portion 90 may be colored, polarized, magnified, UV resistant, or a harder material to shield the wearer's eyes from airborne litter, or similar properties. . The visor 90 may include a structural pattern on the surface, such as a micro repeating surface. In addition, the visor may be coated with another material, including a smoothing liquid or silicone, prior to attachment to the hood assembly 10. Such a micro-replicated surface or lubricant prevents the formation of air pockets on the contact surface between the visor portion 10 and the inner surface of the side wall 22 of the hood 14.

  The insert 80 includes a visor portion 90 and may include a coating on the inner surface, i.e., the surface closest to the wearer. The coating can further include auxiliary optical properties. For example, the coating may be an antifogging agent or an anti-scratch coating that damages the surface with the wearer's items (piercings, glasses, etc.) to create a visual obstruction to the wearer. prevent. Similarly, while the visor portion 90 is formed from a transparent crystalline polymer, the remainder of the insert 80 may include different optical properties (such as colored or opaque). Alternatively, the insert 80 may be a single sheet that includes the same optical properties without the discernable periphery 88 of the visor portion 90.

  In addition to the tabs on the insert 34 and the fasteners on the insert 80, the insert of the hood assembly of the present invention may be a common fastening means for attaching the hood and insert material, or a combination of different fastening means. Either can be fixed to the hood. The fastener can be a magnet, and the hood includes an iron insert for the magnet to attach and secure the insert to the hood. While the hood may include a pocket or groove, the insert includes a corresponding structure, such as a tab as described above, or the insert has one or more tabs on one side. May be dimensioned to be received in a groove or the like on the other side of the insert. Alternatively, one or more strips of hook tape may be attached near the top and bottom edges of the insert and the corresponding loop tape strip attached to the inside surface of the hood sidewall (or vice versa). Also the same). As the insert is inserted and placed into the appropriate area inside the hood, each opposing pair of hook and loop strips of tape is pressed together to secure the insert in place. The insert can also be secured by sewing or lacing the hood to the insert using a high gauge thread. When placing the insert in the hood, a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive is placed on the outer periphery of the insert so that the wearer presses the hood and insert together to activate the adhesive. It may be applied to. The term “repositionable” means that an insert containing an adhesive can be adhered to and removed from a clean solid surface at least twice without substantial loss of tack. Similarly, the hood material may be designed and manufactured to include an electroadhesive film that secures the insert in contact with the inside of the hood sidewall.

  Inserts 34 and 80 are removable from hood 14. This creates the advantage of increased flexibility of the hood 14 when the insert is removed so that it is a rigid hood or supported as a rigid structure by the insert structure of the present invention. It can be adapted to a wider area. Similarly, when the insert is removed, the hood can be crushed and stored relatively flat until needed (the insert can be stored in its flat state as well). ). When a stiffened hood is needed, the insert may be reinserted and secured to the hood 14 to take the form shown in FIG.

  As previously disclosed, the hood with the insert in the embodiment of FIG. 3 has a generally cylindrical shape. The insert 80 is a flexible framework assembly for the hood 14 that can be made different shapes for the respirator hood assembly 10. When the insert 80 is installed in the hood, the flexible hood material of the hood 14 is stretched with a pin to create a substantially uniform viewing area. The outer skin layer 19 is pulled with the pin by the insert 80, and when the outer skin layer 19 of the front portion 14a and part of the side portions 14b and 14c is pulled against the surface of the insert 80, the outer skin layer 19 is pulled. Means that the creases and wrinkles in A portion of the rear portion 14d and / or the side portions 14b and 14c does not contact the insert 80 and remains a flexible region. This region is created by the difference between the lengths L1 and L2 of the corresponding upper end 81 and lower end 82. The result is a structure with cylindrical side walls, but the upper and lower circular surfaces are not necessarily parallel to each other. While the front portion 14a of the hood 14 is fixed for viewing, the area of the rear portion 14d of the hood 14 remains flexible, allowing the wearer to enter a narrower area. In all embodiments, the insert of the present invention prevents the formation of folds in the flexible hood material to create a substantially uniform viewing area when the insert is mounted inside the hood.

  While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

  The present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings, wherein like structures are designated with like numerals throughout the several views.

  Although the drawings identified above illustrate many embodiments of the present invention, other embodiments are contemplated as specifically noted herein. In all cases, this disclosure provides the invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that many other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art within the scope and spirit of the principles of the present invention.

The perspective view of the person who is wearing the respirator hood. 1 is a perspective view of a person wearing a respirator hood assembly that includes a structural insert of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of an insert outside the hood assembly. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an insert installed in a hood assembly. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hood assembly taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a flexible hood insert.

Claims (25)

A respirator hood assembly,
A flexible hood that encompasses a transparent viewing area,
A removable stiffening support structure mountable within the interior of the hood, wherein the support structure stretches the flexible hood with a pin to prevent crease formation in the transparent viewing area assembly.   The respirator hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable stiffening support structure is secured to the hood. A plurality of pockets on the inside of the hood;
A plurality of tabs on the support structure, wherein at least one tab on the removable stiffening support structure is provided in a pocket on the hood to secure the support structure to the hood. The respirator hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the respirator hood assembly is insertable into a corresponding one.   The respirator hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the removable stiffening support structure provides different optical properties than the transparent viewing area of the hood.   The respirator hood assembly of claim 4, wherein the first portion of the removable stiffening support structure is aligned with a transparent viewing region of the hood.   The respirator hood assembly of claim 4, wherein the first portion of the removable stiffening support structure is aligned with a portion of the flexible hood excluding a transparent viewing area. Prior to being installed inside the hood, the removable stiffening support structure is
The respirator hood assembly of claim 1, comprising a flexible, generally planar seat operable to allow its insertion through the lower opening of the hood.   The removable stiffening support structure has an opening therethrough, which is aligned with the transparent viewing area of the hood when the support structure is mounted within the inside of the hood. The respirator hood assembly according to claim 1. A gas impermeable hood made from a flexible material, the material of the gas impermeable hood having a transparent viewing region, an inlet of filtered air to receive breathable air into the hood, An improvement of a respirator hood assembly having at least one check valve for facilitating gas evacuation from the hood, and a portion for securing the hood around the wearer's head,
A removable stiffening support structure mounted within the inside of the hood, which maintains the hood in an extended upright position and stretches the transparent viewing area with a pin through the wearer Improvements, including a support structure that is stiff enough to enhance visibility. The removable rigid support structure is
The improvement of claim 9 comprising a flexible, generally planar sheet that can be deformed for insertion into the inside of the hood.   The improvement of claim 9, further comprising a fastener capable of securing the removable rigid support structure with respect to the gas impermeable hood.   The fastener is one or more tabs, grooves, connecting elements, or magnets located near the periphery of the sheet, one or more strips of hook and loop fasteners, adhesive, or the removable stiffening The improvement of claim 11 selected from the group consisting of electrostatic adhesion between a support structure and the gas impermeable hood, or a combination thereof.   The improvement of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the removable stiffening support structure provides different optical properties than the transparent viewing region of the gas impermeable hood.   The respirator hood assembly of claim 13, wherein a first portion of the removable stiffening support structure is aligned with a transparent viewing region of the gas impermeable hood.   The respirator hood assembly of claim 13, wherein a first portion of the removable stiffening support structure is aligned with a portion of the gas impermeable hood excluding a transparent viewing area.   The removable stiffening support structure has an opening therethrough, which is aligned with a transparent viewing area of the hood when the support structure is mounted in the inside of the hood. Improved description. A method of using a respirator hood assembly to protect a wearer from breathing hazards, comprising:
A flexible hood including an inlet for filtered air, an exhaust system including at least one check valve, and a transparent viewing region, which may include an opening for insertion of the head of the wearer's body Providing a flexible hood,
Placing a removable stiffening support structure within the interior of the hood to create a stiffened hood assembly;
Placing the stiffened hood assembly around the head of the wearer's body;
Sealing the stiffened hood assembly around the wearer to prevent breathing hazard from entering the stiffened hood assembly;
Including a method.   The method of claim 17, further comprising securing the removable stiffening support structure to the flexible hood. The step of arranging
18. The method of claim 17, comprising manipulating the removable rigid support structure from a first substantially planar state to a second three-dimensional state. The step of arranging
Providing a plurality of tabs on the stiffening support;
The method of claim 17, comprising inserting at least one tab into a respective tab receptacle formed on the inside of the flexible hood.   The method of claim 17, wherein the removable stiffening support structure has an opening that aligns with a transparent viewing region of the hood when the stiffening support is disposed within the interior of the hood. A respirator hood assembly,
A flexible hood structure having a first state in which the hood structure is collapsed for storage and transport; and a second state in which the hood structure is expanded for breathing use;
When attached to the hood structure, the hood structure is placed in its second state so that at least the front portion of the hood structure including the transparent viewing area and the side of the hood structure are stretched with pins. A removable stiffening support structure for the hood structure, and means for attaching the removable stiffening support structure to the flexible hood structure,
Including respirator hood assembly.   The respirator hood assembly of claim 22, wherein the removable stiffening support structure is a single sheet of material.   The respirator hood assembly of claim 22, wherein the removable stiffening support structure is inserted into the hood structure.   Means for attaching one or more tabs, grooves, connecting elements, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, adhesives, sewing the flexible hood to the flexible frame assembly, the removable 23. The respirator hood assembly of claim 22, wherein the respirator hood assembly is selected from the group consisting of electrostatic adhesion between a rigid stiffening support structure material and the flexible hood material, or a combination thereof.

Images